Wheel.



A. G, GILLAM.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION rum) we. 12, 1906.

v mama 0ct.12,1909.

SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' W/ TNESSES X? wk ATTORNEYS- A. 0. G LLAMQ WHEEL. APPLIUATIOH FILED AUG. 12, 1908. I

Patented Oct. 12, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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A TTOHNEYS between the arms of the body -be settled into the new tube be then pushed throu space between the body, plates allowing a radial movement of the entire spool giving great resilience. The free space around the pneumatic tubes allows them to assume an elliptical or ovoid shape when such radial displacement of the spool is prevented.

It will be understood that with "the construction shown, the outer or rim housing of the wheel might be rotated with only one of the tubes inflated and possibly with all of the tubes deflated so that it is not probable that the wheel can be put out of service even should all of the pneumatic tubes be deflated,

but the said tubes when inflated in connec tion with the spools travelingin the radial grooves B give a high degree of resiliency, and thegrooves'B permit the replacing of the tubes without taking the Wheel apart.

Manifes'tly with all the pneumatic tubes deflated the wheel no longer operates as a sprin wheel, but it will be understood that thisdeflationof the tubes does not/put the wheel entirely out of commission, but the construction as shown permits the vehicle to continue its journey without a total break down. This is aided by the operation of the set screws B, which may be tightened to fasten portions shown or plate and the spools firmly in their grooves and thus prevent the spools from-falling out when all of the tubes are deflated. The tubes being of small size, extra ones can be easily carried. p

The axle plate may be made of aluminum or other suitable material, and the body rim plates may also be made of any suitable metal and in about the proother suitable proportions as may be found desirable in designing the wheels for practical .use.

In Fig. 4 the body plates B are shown channeled at B, this being for the purpose of decreasing the weight By the described construction, it will be noticed that in operation the movement of the rim portion of the wheel is synchronous with that of the axle and the wheel when used on self propelling vehicles is well ada ted to the shaft driven type. Manifest y, however, the circular supporting side plates might be fastened to the axle plate and the latter be freely revolved around the axle, and sprocket wheels be applied to .the side plates to permit the application of power to a wheel revolving about the axle without departing from some of the princi les of my invention. When so constructed Ball bearing devices as shown in Fig. 6 may be employed. In this construction, the balls run in a suitable race, and a sprocket wheel X is provided.

I claim- 1. The wheel substantially as herein described comprising a central or axle plate portion having radial arms and grooved along its body portion and said arms, body plates on opposite sides of the central plate and having arms alternating with those of the central plate and provided in their inner faces midway between the ends of the arms and the central plate with radial grooves, a rim portion carried by the arms of the body plates, spools fitting at their ends in the grooves of the body plates, annular pneumatic tubes encircling the said spools and fitting in the grooves of the central plate and bearing between the same and the rim portion of the wheel, and side plates overlapping at their outer edges the inner edges of the body plates, all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The combination in a wheel with a rim portion and body plates supporting the same, of spools-carried by the body plates and movable radially with respect thereto, a central or axle plate between the body plates, and annul neumatic tubes encircling their respective spools and lying between the body plates and bearing between the central or axle plate and the rim portion of the wheel for supporting the latter, substantially as set forth.

3. In a wheel substantiallyas described, the combination of a rim portion, a central or axle portion, body plates on opposite sides of the central portion, annular pneumatic tubes bearing between the central ortion and the rim portion, and spools within said. tubes and radially movable relatively to the body portion, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination in a wheel, with a rim portion, and body plates supporting the same, of spools carried by the body plates, the lat ter having in their inner faces recesses form ing seats in which the ends of the spools are removably held by inflated tubes, and annutivespools and lying between the body plates and adapted when inflated to maintain the -.spool ends in t recesses or seats therefor,

and when deflate. to permit the removal of said spools with the deflated tubes, substantially as set forth.

ARTHUR. CALDWELL GILLAM. Wltnesses C. E. TYLER, C. P. CHns'rER.

lar pneumatic tubes encircling their respec- 

